Just my last post I was talking about Google + and its great challenge to overcome a 700 million user network. As soon as they launched it, I was out in the search for an invite and try it out, see what all the buzz was all about and if it really does have a distinctive added value over Facebook. And voilà! Late at night yesterday I spotted a friend updating her Facebook status to “Got Google+, bye Facebook!” It wasn’t a second after that I posted her to send me an invite.
I spent the rest of the night tweaking my profile and finding out what it’s all about. So far sooo good! Privacy settings are so much better. You are the true owner of your privacy in Google +. There are features that are not included on Facebook, like the Hangout plug-in in which you can share with people in your chosen circles to watch you through your cell phone. Not in a creepy way, if that was what you were thinking, but simply like a Skype-like add-in.
What’s more, all your Google related services are brought together in a single management tool: Blogger, Gmail, Google+, Picasa, etc. The only things missing in my collection? Android and Chromebook, but fear not, I’ll get my hands on those ASAP. Anyway, there’s still a lot that needs tuning up, including the mobile site.
There’s also the part where the whole world, apps, browsers (like Rockmelt) and other things adapt to this new network. There’s a long way to go for Google +, but so far, they’ve managed to impress the current users and I know they will the future ones. Demand was so hectic, invites were only opened for two hours and then closed up again by Google. Right now, there are reports of people selling invites (which are no longer enabled) on Ebay for $27 bucks. But remember, invites are disabled until further notice, so watch out for rip-offs if you still haven’t gotten in yet.